Kona Grill To Open First California Location at Irvine Spectrum

Kona Grill, which is a Hawaiian-themed restaurant chain based in Arizona, is planning to open its first California location at the Irvine Spectrum next year. Expect dishes such as Macadamia Nut Chicken with a pineapple-papaya marmalade, Miso-Sake Sea Bass and a passion fruit creme brulee for dessert. They will also serve sushi rolls.

The chain already has over 30 restaurants in 19 other states. According to Kona Grill's press release, the Irvine Spectrum location will be across from Yard House. Currently there's a vacant space where the Improv used to be. When it does open, Kona will have a bar as well as a custom-built aquarium, which seems a signature feature of the chain.

Edwin Goei was born on the island of Java, grew up in La Habra, studied in Irvine, and eats everywhere. Before becoming an award-winning restaurant critic for OC Weekly in 2007, he went by the alias "elmomonster" on his blog Monster Munching, in which he once wrote a whole review in haiku.